KR19990022840A - Personal computer with at least one disk drive - Google Patents

Abstract

A personal computer has a main board upon which a processor (14) is arranged. The main board holds a ROM memory (16) for a BIOS program and a RAM memory (18) into which the BIOS program is copied and from which the BIOS program is run when the personal computer is started. At least one floppy disk drive (24) is associated with a drive controller (22) and is releasably connected mechanically and electrically to the other parts of the personal computer. In order to ascertain how many drives (24, 26) are available, every time the computer is started it verifies how many drives (24, 26) are electrically connected and a bit is set in the RAM memory (18) for every connected drive (24, 26).

Description

Personal computer with at least one disk drive

Personal computers are generally equipped with at least one disk drive at the present stage of technology. Today's typical disk drives also use 3 1/2 inch drives or 5 1/4 inch drives, which are still requested by buyers of personal computers, some of which are ordered when buying a new computer and some later. The equipment has been retrofitted. The present invention takes into account that a personal computer generally has a 3 1/2 inch drive and must be retrofitted at least if it is not already equipped with a 5 1/4 inch drive MF or a second 3 1/2 inch drive. . In general, personal computer equipment with 3 1/2 inch and 5 1/4 MF inch disk drives can be employed without any limitation in accordance with the present invention and can be changed at any time without having to modify the BIOS program correspondingly.

At this point in time, the most widely used shapes of drives and disks are 3 1/2 inch drives and 1,4 MB disks. Import and export of data and programs is possible via disk, which is the most widely used method at this time. In contrast, other possibilities for the input and reading of data and programs are, for example, removable removable disks, interfacing data transfers and CD-ROMs.

Personal computers and processes of this kind are known from EP 167 879 and 167 826. The first mentioned patent relates to an apparatus which refers to whether there is a drive capable of registering 80 tracks or a drive which only registers 40 tracks. In other words, either the double width of the track or the single width of the track, or twice the space (with 40 tracks) or single space (with 80 tracks) were tested. Thus, the read head of the disc drive may be moved to a track, reaching one disk drive but not reaching the track 45 as another example. By successive reset to sequential track 0, one can tell whether there is a drive that can read 80 tracks or a drive that can only read 40 tracks. The second European patent mentioned works in the same way. Here, additionally, there is a first sensor that refers to whether there is a disk in the drive, and a second sensor that is connected to the lead of the drive and thereby can tell whether the disk can be changed after the last access. I'm asking.

In both cases, there is a disadvantage that the mechanical movement of the read head must be performed to determine the type of device. Their mechanical movements are detected by sound, which can be detected after the personal computer has started. In this case, with at least one disk drive, mechanical movement is basically always in terms of time efficiency, on the other hand, there is always a risk of wear and tear due to mechanical movement.

The present invention relates to a personal computer according to the preamble of claim 1 as well as an operation process such as a personal computer according to the preamble of claim 9.

1 is a block diagram of the main components of a personal computer,

2 is an explanatory diagram of a 1,44MB disk.

This is the beginning of the invention. The object of the present invention is to further develop the above-described personal computer and its operating process, such that the mechanical movement of the read head of a disc drive over several tracks determines which drive is connected and which disc is between them. It is no longer needed, and the read state of the computer after startup is much faster.

This problem is solved by the patent according to claim 1 and the personal computer according to the process of claim 9.

According to the present invention, the scanning and testing of the transfer rate independently indicate whether the recesses present with 1,44MB can be proved and what disks and drives are present.

The term personal computer includes all desktops of tauers that can be connected to a monitor and a separate keyboard via each of several connections. In terms of time, the BIOS program used on these personal computers supports up to two disk drives. According to the present invention, they are 3 1/2 inch drives with up to 720KB, 1,44MB or 2,88MB capacity or 80 tracks per page, or 40 tracks per page as well as 80 tracks per page. It is a 5 1/4 MF drive that is readable and MF can only perform multiple functions and means. These drives are suitable for disks with a maximum storage capacity of 360KB or 1,2MB. The storage capacity of the disk is based on the fact that it can be formatted at low storage capacity as well as high storage capacity. Thus, for example, 1,2 MB disks may be formatted to 360 KB.

As described in claim 1, the identification of transfer rates only among the selection of drives and disks makes a significant allocation as possible, as well as 5 1/4 inch drives and 1,2 MB disks, as well as 1,44 MB and 3,5 inches. The transmission rate of 500 Kbit / s is only unclear because of the presence of the drive. Here, a scan of a recess with a 1,44MB disk can identify the difference, so that one clear assignment can be made together, ie which drive is present and which disk is placed in it according to the process according to the present invention. can do.

The invention can be practiced on single or double sided discs. The disk may be of DD, HD, or ED type. According to the invention the basis is that the disk is formatted.

An important advantage of the present invention is that it saves time and mechanical movement when the computer starts compared to the current technical stage. The question in the present invention concerns whether, at startup, zero, one or two disk drives are electronically connected. Thus, drives A and B are also shown only as to whether they are referred to as drives 0 and 1. This takes place, for example, via BIOS function 15h of interrupt 13h, where the number of disks, 0 or 1, enters the DL register and the carry-flag is scanned. If this is 0 and information 0 is included in the AH register, the disk drive is not connected. The drive exists as any other content in the Ah register. As an alternative to this, the function 00h will be scanned at the interrupt 13h, i.e. a reset will be performed. When the input (00h) enters the Ah register, 0 or 1 enters the DL register depending on the disk drive to be scanned. If the carry-flag is zero in response to the input, it means that the operation is running, that is, the drive is connected. Another scan indicating whether drive 0 or 1 is electrically connected is possible via a BIOS function.

One bit is set in the RAM-storage of each detected drive so the two bits are used together as storage space. If there is a resort to the drive at a later stage, i.e. after startup, the scan always scans whether the set bit is present. The scan of the drive does not occur at all if there is no addressed drive, in which case an error message is sent.

If the drive executes the second and second stages according to the features of claim 1, i.e., the transfer rate is set by trials and errors, and a 1,44 MB recess is scanned by reading data from the disk in the drive. As described in claim 1 from the two pieces of information, in total, a clear assignment to five possible constellations is possible. Thus, with just the transfer rate, a clear dividend for three of the five cases is already achieved and two constellations are possible at a transfer rate of just 500 Kbit / s, scanning the recess on a 1,44MB disk between the two choices. Is determined.

Information sensed during the first phase (with POST) and the second phase (gaying access to the drive) via the drive is stored in RAM storage. This occurs outside the address provided by the BIOS. The storage process also takes place under the address, which is supplied to the BIOS accordingly,

Scanning can also be performed prior to scanning of the transmission rate or scanning of the recess. The order in which the two scanning processes are performed is arbitrary.

Currently in production personal computers, most drive A's are in the case, and most are 3 1 / 2-inch drives, most of which are 1,44MB disks that initially scan the recesses, so the constellation can be scanned. Significant time savings are achieved compared to the current technology, i.e., the scan starts with a relatively separate disk type and a relatively unusual disk drive. In addition, as compared to the process of the current technology, significant correction of constellation is required. If, for example, it becomes clear that 2,88MB disks will become the dominant standard on 3 1 / 2-inch drives, you can resort to this constellation from scratch. In general, it is customary that other constellations that are not predominant are installed by each of the other distributions. In most cases, the process according to the invention goes very quickly with information about the shapes that actually exist, even if there is no predominant constellation.

As an example, for a 1,44 MB disc, the information is based on the fact that this disc is also used for the indicated storage capacity. However, the disk in the present invention may be formatted with a low storage capacity of, for example, 720KB given. In the present invention, the disc can be formatted higher even though the process according to the present invention can basically regulate the reading and writing of a highly formatted disc.

A 1,44MB disk is commonly known as a recess with 1,44MB, which must be located on a 3 1/2 inch drive. In this case, the present invention is not limited to only scanning the recesses, but in most cases, even if the 1,44Mb disk, which is 500 Kbit / s, in other words, is actually formatted at 1,44MB, the transfer rate is also checked. However, this disk can be formatted at 720KB, so a scan of only the recesses is not enough and can lead to false results in the actual example. Because of the additional scan of the rate, the correction constellation can be detected even in rare cases.

It is also known as a 2,88MB disk placed differently through their recesses, and the presence of a 2,88MB disk must be placed in a 3 1/2 inch drive. Furthermore, the present invention does not limit this scan to just scanning, but in most cases even if measured at 1 Mbit / s, that is, even if the 2,88 MB disk is actually formatted at 2,88 MB, the transfer rate is checked. However, the disk is also formatted to 1,44MB or 720KB, which is not enough to scan only the recesses. Because of the initial scan of 500Kbit / b and 250Kbit / b rates, the correct constellation is detected in both cases.

The process according to the invention is based on the fact that the disc is only formatted in the format shown in claim 1, thereby limiting the BIOS. As soon as the other formatting is executed via an additional program or other personal computer, it does not act as a disk with a computer operating according to the present invention. In special cases, however, it is possible to install additional drivers.

Immediately after the computer starts, the type of disk drive that is placed in the drive for the purpose of formatting this disk is not yet known, where resorts to data stored in CMOS or stored in other constant storage of the so-called upsets. It is possible to do For this purpose, there is a so-called in-ROM set as the preferred embodiment in the personal computer's BIOS program, which can retrieve information stored in the CMOS or in permanent RAM storage, which can be used and modified via CONFIGURATION without a bootable system. .

MB disks of type 3 1/2 inch and 1,44 in the BIOS of drive 0, drive A, are stored at standard values as a preferred embodiment. Immediate formatting by 3 1/2 inch discs is possible in the previous problem of formatting an unformatted disc after starting up and before the already formatted disc is working in the drive.

In addition, as a standard value indicating the basis of the drive's BIOS, it has proved desirable to accept information about drives included in the CMOS or in the permanent RAM-storage of the setup when starting the computer (POST). In this case, the process according to the invention is not only provided for that purpose, but also serves only as a review, and as an indication of the disc located in the drive and also in the form of a drive, ie read-write if necessary. When an error is displayed, it is used as an indication of the type of drive. This error can occur if the drive has been replaced for some time or if the information about the drive in the upset is incorrect.

As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is also proposed that information about at least one disk drive accepted according to the process according to the invention is also stored in the storage of the setup and thus overwritten or exchanged by the user. For example, if drive A is a 3 1/2 inch drive defined by the process according to the present invention by upset, drive A is a 5 1 / 4MF drive, and setup storage is automatically calibrated or user calibrated. Should be done. Thereby the number of connected drives in matching storage, ie CMOS or permanent RAM-storage, is always given at the same time, and this information contains at least one RAM-storage that works by copying the BIOS-program when the personal computer starts up. The same information about the drive can be accepted.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the information registered by the process according to the invention is stored via at least one drive and disk type, which is finally processed in the RAM-storage in which a BIOS program is operated. Information about the disk continues as long as the disk convert signal is given. If a signal is given, the stored data for the disk is deleted and scanned from the beginning on the inserted disk with new access to the drive. Both drives suitable for the process according to the present invention each have a sensor, which signals to the sensor when the entry to the disk is used and independently of whether the disk is located in the drive slot.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

The symbol B throughout the specification is a byte.

When referring to the X486, it refers to the processor 14, the so-called Intel-architecture (Intel is a registered trademark). For example, 80486 processor 14. A more developed form of this processor is, for example, the so-called Pentium processor (Pentium is a registered trademark). These correspond to processor X486. X486 type processors come in many forms.

In the body 10, the mother board 12 is installed and the processor 14 of the type specified here is located. In addition, ROM-storage 16 is installed, in which the BIOS program is permanently stored. In addition, RAM-storage 18 is installed, and a copy is made from the execution of the BIOS program during startup of the personal computer. In the illustrated embodiment this storage 18 is also stored in response to data and at the same time a setup program is stored, which also goes to a separate storage which is not variable.

Drive control 22 enters slot 20 and secures two disk drives 24 (3 1/2 inch type) and 26 (5 1/2 inch type) personal components, e. Known as disk drives, video cards, etc. is not described here. Monitor 28 and keyboard 30 are connected to show a complete computer description.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the shift of the 1,44MB disk 32 in its open state, showing that the actual data carrier 34 is in the form of a flat disk and is located within the body of the disk 32. FIG. .

The groove 38 is formed opposite the recording protection device 36 embodied as a shifter, which is typical for this type of disc. It is not set to a 720KB disk, which is installed as a 2,88MB disk in another location. This is scanned by the scanning device 40 located in the disk drive 24.

Initially, when you start your personal computer, a large number of connected disk drives are scanned. The BIOS-routine described above can be used for this purpose. As an example, two disk drives 24 and 26 are connected to a particular storage location in RAM-storage 18, with one bit set for each connected disk drive. The BIOS program first resorts to this bit, and if it is later, it will need to resort to the drive after the POST.

Only after the completion of POST (the power of the self test) is it known how many disk drives there are. If, by way of example, there is access to disk drive A, indicated at 24, it is checked in a known manner whether the disk 32 is initially located in the drive slot. And the sensor to be scanned is installed by a normal method. If there is actually a disk 32 in the drive 24, and if the above bits are set for each drive 24, then the following steps are taken.

As a standard value, the BIOS-program is based on a 1,44MB disk with drive A being a 3 1/2 inch drive and the disk 32 being inserted. The standard values for the drive can be placed in setup storage and considered as standard values or they can be stored in the BIOS program as the initial standard values.

First, it is checked whether each scanning device 40 exists, that is, whether there is a recess 38 of a 1,44MB disk. In this case, the drive must be a 3 1/2 inch drive and the disk placed on it must have a maximum of 1,44MB. In the second step, drive 24 enters motion and attempts to read data from disk 32 in accordance with the standard, ie 500 Kbit / s, transfer rate. If this is successful, the specification will be a 3 1 / 2-inch drive, a formatted 1,44MB disk.

Thereby data reading is performed via information, which is done during formatting and is included in track 0. The so-called read ID step is made with, for example, an interrupt 13h and a function 02h.

If the recess 38 is not found or if reading of the data is not possible at a given rate, then the other four possible constellations as described in claim 1 are in order corresponding to the actual distribution of this constellation. Checked sequentially. Thus, for example, a constellation disk 360 KB and a 5 1/4 inch drive are scanned with the last possibility. This scan operation operates according to conventional regulations as applied before enabling automatic recognition of constellations. Therefore, after the first start, there is no recess 38, and a recess of 2,88 MB disk is scanned by the scanning device 40 to execute a transmission rate of 1 Mbit / s and 500 Kbit / s alc 250 Kbit / s in this order. If a positive read ID result is found, the search is interrupted as the constellation is known. Otherwise the search continues.

Optionally, the scan initially starts at a 500 Kbit / s transfer rate, so that if the read IDstart yields a calibration result, only the recess 38 and then if it does not exist, a 288 MB disk Is scanned. If one of these recesses is found, the constellation is known. (3 1/2 inch drive and 1,44MB disk or 2,88 MB disk formatted in 1,44MB) If there is no recess, there is a constellation 5 1/2 inch drive and 1,2 MB disk . If the set rate is wrong, others are checked, eg 1 Mbit / s and 250 Mbit / s.

The present invention further develops a personal computer and its operating process so that the mechanical movement of the read head of the disc drive over several tracks is no longer necessary to determine which drive is connected and which disc is between them, This makes the computer's read state much faster after startup.

Claims (10)

Equipped with a mother board, an X486-type processor 14 or higher processor is installed inside, ROM-storage 16 and RAM-storage 18 for BIOS-programming are installed, and a personal computer is started internally. BIOS-programmed and assigned at copy-time, with at least one disk drive 24 that can be 5 1/4 inch and 80 and 40 tracks and / or 3 1/2 inch, drive control 22 In a personal computer capable of this and being electrically mechanically removable from other components of the personal computer, how many disk drives 24 and 26 are all present and how many disk drives 24 and 26 are electrically RAM-storaged. Each time you start to see if it is connected to the test, the bits are set for the drives 24 and 26 to which they are connected, respectively, and at least for which type Two scans occur in an algebraic sequence to determine if my disk drive (ie 24) belongs and what kind of disk is located there, so that a) the motor of the disk drive (i.e. 24) Is set, the first transfer rate of the data is set, and if the transfer rate is not suitable by attempting to register data from the disc (i.e., 32) located in the disc drive 24, the second transfer rate is selected. As such, the first or other transfer rate enables correction reading of data stored on the disk (ie 32) so that the following assignment is made: Baud Rate 500Kbit / s 1Mbit / s 250Kbit / s 500Kbit / s 300Kbit / s Disk 1,44MB 2,88MB 720KB 1,2MB 360KB Drive 3,5 3,5 3,5 5 1 / 4MF 5 1 / 4MF And b) scanning and testing the scanning device 40 in the 3 1/2 inch drive respectively to see if there is a recess 38 present as a 3 1/2 inch, 1,44 MB disk. If a signal is present, there is a disk with a 3 1 / 2-inch drive and a maximum storage capacity of 1,44 MB, and if no signal is present any other of the five other constellations described above is given to the registered constellation. Personal computer characterized in that the migration is stored in RAM-storage 18 of the BIOS. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein if a recess 38 of 1,44 MB disks is not present, a recess of 3 1/2 inch, 2,88 MB disks positioned differently can be registered with the scanning device 40. Personal computer characterized in that The method of claim 1, wherein the scanning starts with, for example, a 3 1/2 drive type and a 1,4 MB type disk, for example, which is the most widely used arrangement at the time of production of a personal computer, and then secondly. Personal computers characterized by frequently used arrays being scanned 2. A personal computer according to claim 1, wherein in a personal computer with immutable storage as an element of the personal computer, in particular with disk drives 24, 26 and disk 32 preferably CMOS or NVRAM-storage, A personal computer characterized in that it is part of said storage and is started with parameters, in which the scanning of drive 1 takes place with the data, which is included in said storage. 2. The detected form for the at least one disk drive (24, 26) is stored, and the stored information is used as subsequent access to the disk drive (24, 26), and the disk drive open if no signal is present. That is, a personal computer characterized in that a state in which the disk drive is open appears. The personal computer according to claim 1, wherein the scanning is not performed with the 3 1/2 inch drive in view of the fact that the double width of the track is present or absent. The personal computer according to claim 1, wherein the information on the drives 24, 26 included in the setup storage is used as a standard value, whereby scanning via the disc drive is started. 2. A personal computer according to claim 1, wherein the configuration sensed according to the invention and via the disk drives 24, 26 in the invariant storage of the setup is automatically accepted or according to the user's response. Equipped with a mother board, an X486-type processor 14 or higher processor is installed inside, ROM-storage 16 and RAM-storage 18 for BIOS-programming are installed, and a personal computer is started internally. BIOS-programmed and assigned at copy-time, with at least one disk drive 24 that can be 5 1/4 inch and 80 and 40 tracks and / or 3 1/2 inch, drive control 22 In the operating process of a personal computer capable of this and being electrically mechanically detachable from other components of the personal computer, how many disk drives 24 and 26 are both, and how many disk drives 24 and 26 are electrically connected. Each time you start to see if it is connected to RAM-storage, it is tested and bits are set for the drives 24 and 26 to which they are connected, respectively. Two scans occur in an algebraic sequence to determine whether at least one disk drive 24 belongs to a type and what kind of disk is located there, so that a) the motor of the disk drive 24 If the transfer rate is set to a motion and a first transfer rate of data is set, and the transfer rate is not suitable by attempting to register data from the disc (i.e. 32) located on the disc drive 24, the second transfer rate is selected. Etc., the first or other transfer rate enables correction reading of the data stored on the disk (ie 32) so that the following assignment is made: Baud Rate 500Kbit / s 1Mbit / s 250Kbit / s 500Kbit / s 300Kbit / s Disk 1,44MB 2,88MB 720KB 1,2MB 360KB Drive 3,5 3,5 3,5 5 1 / 4MF 5 1 / 4MF And b) scanning and testing the scanning device 40 in the 3 1/2 inch drive respectively to see if there is a recess 38 present as a 3 1/2 inch, 1,44 MB disk. If a signal is present, there is a disk with a 3 1 / 2-inch drive and a maximum storage capacity of 1,44 MB, and if no signal is present any other of the five other constellations described above is given to the registered constellation. Operating process of a personal computer characterized in that the migration is stored in the RAM-storage 18 of the BIOS. The operating process of a personal computer according to claim 9, wherein the personal computer using the personal computer according to any one of claims 1 to 8.